Heel-channeling machine



Sept. 12, 1933. KNQWLTQN 1,926,153

HEEL CHANNELING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 12, 1933.

Filed June 12, 1930 s Sheets-.Shet 2 HEEL CHANNELING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W vm 70?.

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNETED STATES PATENT oi-"Fic 1,926,153 7 HEEL-CHANNELING MACHINE Norwood H. Knowlton, Rockport, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. .l., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 12, 1930, Serial No. 460,769, and in Great Britain November 27, 1929 16 Claims. (01. 12 42) This invention relates to machines for operating uponheels and is illustrated as embodied in a machine designed to form in the breasts of Louis heels'channels for receiving the marginal portions of heel covers. s

In United States Letters Patent No. 1,704,204, granted on March 5, 1929 on application of William l-I. Nutt, there are described Louis heels hav ing in their breasts cover-receiving channels or slots located near the breastedges of the heels and extending substantially parallel thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for quickly and accurately forming in the breasts of heels cover-receiving channels or slots such as are illustrated in the abovementioned Letters Patent.

To this end and in accordance with a feature constructed and arranged to engage the breast and a side respectively of a heel to position the heel relatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel as the heel is moved past the cutter a heel-cover-receiving channel or slot.

In order properly to position-the heel relatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel a channel or slot positioned at a predetermined distance from a breastedge of the heel and in order to control the depth of the channel, each of the illustrated gages is mountedfor adjustment relatively to the cutter and is also mounted for movement relatively to the other. The illustrated gage which engages the side of the heel has a heel-engaging surface shaped to accommodate heels of different sizes andstyles and in accordance with a further feature of the invention is made of flexible material and is constructed and arranged to have the curvature of its heel engaging surface controlled by the operator.

Referring to the drawings, 7

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of a portion of the right-hand channeling unit of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 and shows in detail channeling and guiding instrumentalities for forming in the breast'of a Louis heel moved past the channeling unit a channel which is positioned near one of the breast edges of the heel and extends substantially parallel thereto;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the right-hand channeling unit illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the channeling unit illustrated in Fig. 3, the section being taken along the. line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail View showing the relative poheel 24 (Fig. 6) heel-cover-receiving channels or slots 26 which are substantially parallel to the breast edges 28.01 the heel and are of uniform depth, throughout a considerable portion of their length as the heel is moved past the cutter 20 by the operator, a gage 30, and a rest or gage 32 adapted to engage the breast and a side of heel relatively to the cutter. v p

It will be noted that the illustrated machine includes right and left units A and B (Fig. 1) respectively for operating upon the heels, which units are duplicates of each other except in so far as their parts are reversed in order that the operator may feed the heel without reversing it in the same general direction as he channels opposite sides of the heel breast. It will therefore be the heel (Fig. 5) respectively forpositioning the I necessary to describe but one of these units, the

ings 38 is a shaft 42 (Fig. 4) to which one of the above-refcrred-tc cutters 20 for forming chan- V nels 26 is secured, and journaled in each of the housings 40 is a shaft 44 upon which is mounted a cutter 46 for chamfering the inner breastedges [48 at the upper part of the breast of the heel. The chamfering units form no partoi this invention and are not claimed in this application but are fully described and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,854,263, granted April 19, 1932, on an application filed in my name. It will therefore be'unnecessary further to describe the chamfering mechanism in this application. The inner end of each of the shafts 42 (Fig. 4) is provided with a bore 50 into which a barrel portion 52 of the cutter 20 fits, each of the shafts 42 and its respective cutter 20 being clamped together forrotation by a screw 54 carried by a bushing 56 mounted upon each of the bored portions 56 of the shafts. The shafts 42 are illustrated as being operated by belts 58 which are driven by motors controlled by hand switches (Fi 1).

In order to position theheel relatively to the rotary cutter 20 as the operator moves the same past the cutter to form the channel 26, the machine is provided with the gage 30 and the gage 32 above referred to, the former of which is located adjacent to and in front of the rotary cutter 20 for engaging the breast of the heel and the latter of which is positioned behind the retary cutter 20 for engaging one of the sides of the heel adjacent to a breast edge 28 thereof. The gages 30 and are supportedirom a casing 62 bolted torthe housing 38 and having a recessed portion 6e through which the shaft 42 passes. The gage 30 which engages the breast of the heel and cooperates with the gage 32 in supporting the heel relatively to the cutter 20 also regulates the depth of the cut and is conveniently adjusted in a vertical direction (Figs. 2 and 4) by a screw 66 carried by a bracket 68 and having a cirouinferentially disposed slot 70 for receiving a flanged end portion '72 of the gage 3G. The gage Bu ls normally rigidly clamped to the bracket 68 by a set-screw 74 carried by the bracket and passing 'hrough a slot 76 in the gage 30 but may be conveniently turned from clamping position in order that the required vertical adjustment may be efiected by the screw 65. Provision is also made for moving the gage 30 in a horizontal plane and transversely of as well as lengthwiseof the shaft 42 in order effectively to position the heel relatively to the cutter as will now be described. The brackettS is provided with a channel '23 for receiving a tongue 82 of a carrier 82 which is mounted for sliding move ment in a guideway 84 of a collar S5 secured to the casing 62 by set-screw 88. v combined adjusting screw and clamp in threaded engagement with the carrier 82 and passing through a slot in the bracket 68 controls the. horizontal adjustment or" the gage 3Q transversely of the shaft 42 and a screw carriedby the collar 86 and passing'through a slot in the carrier 82 is utilized to adjust the gage 38 lengthwise of the shaft 42.

The gage 32 against which the portion of the side of the heel adjacent to one of the breast edges 28 is engaged is deformable and comprises a' strip of flexible material secured to a support ing arm 96 by a rivet 98. The arm 96 is normally secured to a bracket 18G but may be adjusted relatively thereto in a direction indicated by the arrows 102 through a screw-and-slot c'on-. nection 104, the bracket being adjustably supported for movement lengthwise oi the shaft ,upon the collar 86 by utilizinga screw-and-slot connection 106.

In order to flex the gage 32 for accommodating different sizes and shapes of heels, the machine is provided with a pair of depending arms 108 between the enlarged portions 110 of which the ed relation therewith an elongated screw 124i having an enlarged head 126, the lower face 128 of whichengages against the outer end 130 of the rod 120. The gage when flexed (Fig. 3), normally tends to move the U-shaped bracket 114 and the housing 116 toward the cutter 20 until the head 126 of the screw 124 engages the end,.13u of the rod 120, the curvature of the gage 32 being changed by turning the screw 12%, thereby moving the U-shaped bracket and its de pending arms 1G6 toward or away from the cutter.

In forming channels 26 in the breasts of heels, the operator proceeds as follows: after the gages *39 and 32 have been properly positioned relative- 1y to the cutter 20 for guiding the heel past the cutter and to form a channel of the required depth and curvature in the breast of the heel and after the engaging surface of the 32 has been adjusted to accommodate heels of the size and style to be operated upon, the operator moves the heel past the channeling means, the heel being guided by the gages 3tand 32 as illustrated in Fig. 5. It is customary for theoperator to start at the tread end of the heel and to ter during the trimming operation may be changed, however, if desired, so as to start the cut at the attaching face of the heel and to cut progressively toward the tread face.

In order that the operator will not be subjected to dust during the channel-forming operation, 1

the illustrated machine is provided with dust hood 132 having an opening 134'disposed ironic diately above. each of the channeling units A and B, and for cleaning out the channels where it is found to be necessary, the machine is provided with 'a stiff brush 136 mounted for rotation upon a'shaft 138.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 4 arranged to engage a breast of a heel, and an- I other gage positioned at the other side of the cutter and constructed and arranged to engage a side of the heel and to cooperate with the firstnamed gage in guiding the heel past the cutter to form in the breast of the heel a heel-cover-receiving slot extending heightwise of the heel, said first-named gage being adjustable relatively to the cutter and to the second-named gage for varying the depth ofthe slot formed in the breast of the heel.

2. A machine for operating upon heels having, in combination, a rotary disk cutter, a gage constructed and arranged to engage the breast of a heel, and another gage constructed and arranged to engage aside of the heeland to cooperate with the first-named gage in guiding theheel past the cutter to form in the breast of a heel a heelcover--receiving slot extending parallel to a heelbreast edge formedbetween said side and the breast of the heel, said first-named gage being 1' adjustable relatively to the cutter radially oi the axis of rotation of the cutter to vary the depth of the slot and said second-named cutter being adjustable independently of the first-named gage radially as well as axially of theaxis of rotation of the cutter to vary the distance of the slot from said breast edge of the heel.

3. A machine for slotting heels having, in 00111- bination, a rotary cutter, a gage for engaging the breast of'a heel, and a gage for engaging a side of the heel, said gages having heel-engaging surfaces positioned at opposite sides of the rotary cutter and constructed and arranged to position the heel relatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel as it is moved past the cutter acover-receiving slot which is substantially parallel to one ofthe breast edges of the heel.

' 4. A machine for slotting heels having, in combination, a rotary disk cutter, a gage for engaging thebreast of a heel, and a gage for engaging a side of the heel, said gages having heel-engaging faces positioned respectively at opposite sides of and adjacent to the cutter and being constructed and arranged to position the heel relatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel as the heel is moved past the cutter a'relatively deep and narrow heel-cover-receiving slot which is located adjacent to one of the breast edges of the heel and extends substantially parallel to said edge.

5. A machine for slotting heels having, in combination, a rotary disk cutter, a gage'constructed and arranged to engage the breast of a Louis heel, and a gage comprising a cylindrical surface in clined to the plane of rotation of the cutter and constructed and'arranged to engage, a side of the heel, said gages being positioned at opposite sides of and adjacent to the cutter and being constructed and arranged to position the heel relatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel as the heelis moved past the cutter a relatively deep and narrow heel-cover-receiving slot which is located adjacent to one of the breast edges of the heel and extends substantially parallel to said edge. e v

6. A machine for slotting heels having, in combination, a cutter, a gage iorengaging the breasts of heels, and a gage having a heel-engaging face the shape of which may be changed for engaging portions of the sides of heels of different shapes, said gages being constructed and arranged to position the heel relatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel as the heel is moved past the cutter a heel-cover-receiving slot. 7

'7. Amachine for channeling heels having, in combination, a rotary cutter, a gage for engaging the breast of the heel, a deformable gage having a surface for engagement with a heel limited to a portion of the side of the heel adjacent to the edge formed by the junction of the heel breast and said side of the heel, said gages being con-, structed and arranged to position the heel relatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel as the heel is moved past the cutter a heel-cover-receiving channel which is substantially parallel to said edge, and means for varying the curvature of the heel-engagingsurface of. the deformable gage.

8. In a heel-slotting machine, a rotary cutter, agage for engaging the breasts of heels, and a gage having a heel-engaging face the shape of which may be changed, said gages being con structed and arranged to'position the heels relatively to the cutter for forming in the breasts of the heels as the heels are moved past the cutter relatively deep and narrow heel-cover-receiving slots which are located adjacent to one of the breast edges of the heels and extend substantially parallel to said edges.

V 9. In a heel-slotting machine, a rotary cutter,-

a gage for engaging the breast of a heel, and a gage having a heel-engaging face the shape of which may be changed, said gages being constructed and arranged to position the heels relatively to'the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel, as the heel is moved past the cutter, a

relatively deep and narrow heel-cover-receiving slot which is located adjacent to one of the breast edges of the heel and extends substantially parallel to-said edge and which is-also of uniform depth throughout substantially its length.

10. In a heel-channeling machine, a cutter, a gage, a deformable gage, said gages being constructed and arranged to engage the breast and the side ofa heel respectively to form in the breast ofthe heel as the heel is moved past the cutter a relatively deep and narrow heel-coverreceiving channel which is located adjacent to the breast of the heel, as the heel is moved past the cutter, a heel-cover-receivingslot which is substantially parallel to one of the breast edges of the heel, and meansfor adjusting the gage V i which engages the breast of the heel radially of the cutter to regulate the depth of the slot.

12. In a heel-slotting machine, a rotary cutter, gages, said gages being constructed and arranged to" engage the breast and a side respectively of a heel for positioning it relatively to the cutter to form in the breast of the heel as the heel is moved past the cutter a heel-cover-receiving slot which is substantially parallel to one of the breast edges of the heel, and means for adjusting the gage, which engages the breast of the heel, radially of the cutter to regulate the depth of the slot, the

gage which engages the side of the heel being ad-.

justable axially of the cutterfor regulating the distance of the slot from said breast edge.

13. In a machine for operating upon heels, a

rotary cutter, a gage for engaging the breast of a heel, and agage for engaging a side of the heel, said gages being positioned at opposite sides of the cutter and being constructed and arranged to position the heel relatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel as the heel is moved past the cutter a heel-cover-receiving slot which is substantially parallel to one of the breast edges of the heel and which is of uniform depth throughout substantially its length, the firstnamed gage being adjustable relatively'to the cutter to regulate the depth of the slot, and the second-named gage being adjustable relatively to the cutter for regulating the distance of the slot from said breast edge.

14. A machine for operating upon the heel of a shoe having, in combination, a rotary cutter for forming a heel-cover-receiving channel in the breast of said heel, a gage constructed and arranged to engage the breast of the heel, a deformable gage having a surface for engaging a side of the heel and constructed and arranged to cooperate with the gage accurately to locate the heel relatively to the cutter, means to vary the curvature of the heel-engaging surface of the deformable gage for accommodating heels of dif- 159 ferent sizes and styles, and means for adjusting the heel-breast-engaging,gage relatively to the cutter to regulate the depthlof the channel.

15. A machine for operatingupon a heel of a shoe having, in combination, a rotary cutter to form a heel-cover-receiving channel in the breast of said heel, a gage constructed and arranged to engage the breast of the heel, a deformable gage having a surface constructed and arranged to engage the heel and limited to a portion of a side of the heel adjacent to the edge formed by the junction of the heel breast and said side of the heel, said gages being constructed and arranged to position the heel relatively-to the cutter to form in the breast of the heel as it is moved past the cutter a heel-coverereceiving channel substantially parallel tosaid edge of the heel, means for varying the curvature of the heel-engaging surfaces of the gage for accommodating heels of different sizes and styles, means for adjusting the first-named gage relatively to the cutter to regulate the depth of the channel, and means for adjusting the second-named gage relatively to the cutter for regulating the distance of the channel from said edge.

16. In a heel-slotting machine, a cutter, a gage for engaging the breast of a heel, a gage for engaging a side of the heel, said gages being constructed and arranged to position the heelrelatively to the cutter for forming in the breast of the heel as the heel is moved past the cutter a heel-cover-receiving slot which is located adjacent toone of the breast edges of the heel and extends substantially parallel to said edge, said second-named gage being adjustable relatively to the cutter for varying the distance of the slot from said edge and having a heel-engaging portion the curvature of which may be changed to approximate the curvatures of the sides of the different sizes and styles of heels.

NORWOOD H. KNOWLTON. 

